Switch operating mechanism



MOTOR DRIVEN v. w. LEONARD 2,194,311 SWITCH PERATING MECHANISM OriginalFiled Aug. 8, 1935 Inventor: Vincent W Leonard,

y is Attorney.

Patented Mar. 19, 194i) 11mm. ST

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Vincent W. Leonard, Saugus, Mesa, assignor toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original applicationAugust 8, 1935, Serial No. 35,316. Divided and this application June 7,1938, Serial No. 212,274

12 Claims (Cl. 20027) My invention relates to switch operating mechanismand more particularly to intermittent switch operating mechanisms usedas timing mechanisms for traffic controllers. This application is adivision of my application Serial No. 35,316, filed August 8, 1935. Y

- One object of my invention is to provide an improved adjustablemechanism to facilitate the adjustment of the periods between switchoperations.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved adjustingmechanism to facilitate the adjustment of time periods between switchoperations for a cycle of operations and simultaneously to provide aphas adjustment of an operating cycle relatively to other cycles in thesame time switch or in similar switches in an interconnected system.

For a better understanding of my invention, 0 together with other andfurther objects thereof, reference is had to the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will bepointed out in the appended claims.

I In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a front View, partlyin section, of my improved mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side view in sectionof the same device; Fig. 3 is a front view of a trafiic sig nalcontroller equipped with the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; andFig. 4 is a side view of a switch actuating key.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figs. 1 and 2 disclose a switchoperating mechanism including a dial composed of a face plate In, a backplate II in the form of a ring, and intermediate spacing rings i2 andI3. These members are spaced from each other by Washers I l placedrespectively betweeneach pair of adjacent members, and are held inassembled relation by rivets [5 equally spaced about the center of theface plate. The face plate is provided with a group of radialslots l?arranged near the periphery of the plate. These slots are equally spacedabout the center of the plate, and in the d illustrated example, onehundred slots are pro- .vided and markings placed at each tenth slot.The face plate is further provided with a slot l8 and a sight opening H)which is in the shape of two intersecting circles, the points ofintersection forming-indicator points for the sighting of the positionof the face plate relatively to a core member 20. Y

The back plate i l of the dial is provided with radialslotsZlcorrespondingto the slots ii in the face plate. The intermediatespacing rings plates, respectively.

[2 and I3 are of a smaller diameter than the face plate and the backplate, thereby forming a groove, in the assembly, into which a helicalspring 22, in the form of a-closed ring,'is sprung. The spacing rings l2and I3 are provided with ,5 open ended slots 23 which are aligned withthe slots I? and 2! of the face plate and back plates, respectively, butdo not extend to the outer ends of the slots H and 2t in the face plateand back 110 The face plateifl is rotatably mounted on a I hollow shaft25 and contiguous to the core member 20. This core member is rigidlyattached to the hollow shaft 25, is provided with markings correspondingto the markings of the slots Min .15 the periphery of the face plate andmay'there- .fore be termed a secondary dial. The faceplate,

which may for convenience be called the primary dial in order todistinguish it fromthe secondary dial, is held in contiguousrelationship to. the ,20 secondary dial 29 by a helical spring-26 whichsurrounds the reduced end 21 of the hollow shaft 25 and is held undercompression by a collar,2.8' attached to the reduced end 2? by a setscrew 29. This frictional engagement of' the secondary 5 dial with theface plate is effected so that the" face plate may bemovedangularly'relatively to the secondary 'dial, whenever it is desiredto I change the relationship between the peripheral slots, on the faceplate, and the secondary dial. 30 It is further desired to lock the faceplate,jin the desired position, to the secondarydial 2!] to preventrelative movement during operation. Forthis reason, the secondary dial20' is provided with peripheral serrations 3B which are alignedrespectively with thevgraduation markings on the dial. The face plateis'provided with a knife edged lever 35 which projects through the slotit in the face plateand is pivoted upon a bracket 32 attached to theback; of 40 the dial assembly. The lever moves about a pivot pin 33 andisurged in a clockwise direction about this pivot pin by a spring .3 3.The spring urges this lever into contact'with the secondary dial 2i! andeffects an engagement ,45 between the lever, which is at this pointprovided with a knife edge 35, and the serrations on the periphery ofthe secondary dial. When it is desired to change the relationshipbetween the dial assembly and thecore, it is onlynecessary to move thelever 3i upwardly in its slot is to lift the knife edge 35 out of aserration 30 and turn. the dial assembly until the desired relationshipis obtained The graduation markings on the secondary dial are easilyvisible v in place by a screw 42.

through the opening it, and the indicator point is lined up with theknife edge of the lever 3! and that radial slot ll on the face platewhich is marked 0.

For the purpose of rotating the dial assembly, the hollow shaft isprovided with a gear 3 rigidly attached to it, and the hollow shaftmounted for rotation upon a solid shaft 33. solid shaft in theillustrated example is attached to a panel 38 by having its reduced endprojected through an opening in the panel until a collar on the shaft isin contact with the face of this panel. The end of the reduced portion39 is then riveted over to hold rigidly this shaft perpendicularly tothe face of the panel. The collar 40 is then a spacer for maintaining aspaced relationship between the gear 355 and the panel 38. To preventthe dial assembly from slipping ofi the end of the shaft, a washer 4! isattached to the other end of the shaft held The entire assembly isdriven at a predetermined speed by a gear 43 on the end of the motordriven shaft '44 projecting through the panel 38. The exact relationshipor the two gears 35 and Q3 and their respective shafts 3'!" and M isbetter illustrated in Fig. 3. The gears are of the same sizeand thedriving gear is used to drive several dial assemblies.

Fig. 1, therefore, illustrates the driven shaft forward of andbelow theshaft ill. 44 is preferably operated by a synchronous motor. The speedof such motors is dependent upon the frequency of the alternatingcurrent supplied to it, and since it is possible to maintain constantfrequency on a distribution system, the speed of such motors ispredetermined and constant.

, In Figs. 2 and 3, I have illustrated switch mechanisms operable by thedial assembly above described. This switch mechanism comprises a .pairof contact springs 46 and 41 rigidly held on the face of the panel 38 byblocks 48 and MI. The free ends .of these contact arms project intoslots 50 and 5! in a block 52. The

slots are so arranged that the spring arms are held in a position suchthat contacts '53 and .54 carried by .the spring-armsrespectively areheld in an open circuit position. The lower contact arm 46 is providedwith a finger attached to the arm by an insulating block 56, so thatwhen during the operation of the dial mechanism, a key engages thisoperating finger, the lower contact 53 is raised into engagement withcontact 54 to make a circuit through an operating coil 5'! indicated indotted lines.

The dial mechanism above described operates the switch to -Jil by meansof keys inserted in some of the radial slots. Figs. 2 and 4 illus--trate side views of the operating keys which are inserted in the slotsi'l'for the purpose of actuating the switch mechanisms mounted on thepanel at. placed in the slot marked 0, and is, therefore, the referencekey. It is not intended to'be moved, and is, therefore, provided withonly a small head 65. It is a sheet metal key of sufficient length toproject under the pair of contact arms 46 and M. It is provided withindentations 82 on its edges. "When the key is moved through the-slot I!in the face plate, it raises slightly the spring 22 which, when the keyis in its proper positions, falls into the outer one of the indentations62 and holdsthe key'in position. This key fit is a reference point forthe positioning of a key 553 (see Figs. 1 and 4) The shaft cation of thedials.

The key at the top of Fig. 2 is corresponding to the key 60. Key 83 ispro vided with a larger head 64 so that it may be easily removed andreplaced. Only one of these keys 93 is illustrated in Fig. 1, but anydesired number may be used. The number of these keys 5 This key isprovided with a rectangular head as which is large enough to enable anoperator to change easily its position and to distinguish it from thekeys 63. operate in the same manner as the keys Bland 63 to operate thefirst pair of contacts and operates the second pair of contacts onceduring each revolution of the dial. The instant of this actuation-iseasily determined since the key is distinguished from the other keys-byits rectangular head. Each of the three keys 60, 53, and 85, therefore,operates the contacts 53-54 but only key 55 operates the second pair ofcontacts 6E561.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the front view of the panel 38 on which three ofthe above-described dial assemblies are provided, each being driven bythe gear 43. Each of these dials may be ad justed relatively totheothers merely by lifting the lever 3i and turning the face platerelatively to the secondary dial 241, and in each plate, the keys willbe spaced in accordance withthe desired timing'of switch operations. Acover in is provided to cover the contacts and the dials. Opena ings areprovided to register with each dial mechanism so thatit may be visiblewhen the cover is in closed position. Another opening H is provided inthe cover to register with a dial 12'. used to indicate the time periodfor which the dial rotations are adjusted. In this figure, the cover 1!!is broken away to illustrate fully the switch contacts operated by oneof the dials, and illustrates partly contacts operated by another dial.Each dial operates a similar set of contacts. The contacts may bearranged to close a circuit intermittently to any desired apparatuswherein the actuations must be accurately timed. Fig. 3merely-illustrates 'one appli- In this illustration, the panel 38 isthat of a traffic signal controller in which each dial is arranged tocontrol traffic signals through a definite time sequence. The

The key$5 functions to so secondary dials are driven in a predeterminedfixed relationship relatively to each other from the main drive shaft 44through the interconnecting gears 43 and 3B. The markings on the primarydials and on the secondary dials correspond to each other and alsocorrespond to other 4;;

Several 7o plication is a division, the relationship indicated betweenthe primary and secondary dials of one controller also indicates therelationship between the various operating cycles in the system. Onlyone of the dials is effective at any one time and switching means areprovided so that each dial may be selected to efiect operation of thesignals.

The herein described mechanism is simple both in construction andoperation. The dial is assembled of sheet metal members into which thekey slots are readily stamped, and its mounting upon the shaft of thecore member is readily accomplished by a simple friction devicecomprising the spring and collar. In operation the keys may be readilyinserted in any desired one of the peripheral slots, and are tightlyheld therein by the spring in the groove. When these keys are placed intie slots in order to obtain the desired cycle of operation, this dialmay be turned relative to its secondary dial to adjust it in relation toany other dial in the system.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a switch actuating mechanism, the combination of a rotatable dialincluding a core member, a face plate angularly adjustable rela' tivelyto said core member and provided with radial slots, keys for operatingswitch members projecting through said slots, means in said dial forholding said keys in said slots, and means for locking said dial in anydesired angular relation to said core member.

2. In a switch actuating mechanism, the C0111- oination of a rotatabledial including a face plate provided with radial slots, a groove in theperiphery of said dial, keys for operating switch members projectedthrough said slots and through said groove and a helical spring in saidperipheral groove, the helices of said spring which reg ister with saidslots, respectively, being lifted by each key as it is moved intoposition in said slot and being respectively held in engagement withsaid keys to hold the latter in their respective positions in the dial.

3. In a switch actuating of a face plate, radial slots in said faceplate arranged near the periphery thereof. keys arranged in said slotsat predetermined intervals and projecting through said face plate, meansfor holding said keys in said slots, a core member for said face plate,a shaft rigidly attached to said core member for rotating same, meansfor holding said face plate and said core member in frictionalengagement so that these members may be readily rotated relatively toeach other, and locking means for locking said face plate and said coremember in any desired angular relation relatively to each other.

4. In a traffic signal controller, the combination of a rotatable shaft.a core member comprising a disk attached to said shaft, a second diskmounted upon said shaft androtatable relatively to said core member andprovided with peripheral slots, a ring provided with slots correspondingto the slots in said disk member attached to and spaced from said diskmember, keys projecting through corresponding pairs of slots in saidring and disk. a switch member in the path of said rotatable keys, andmeans for locking said. disk member in any one of a plurality ofpositions relatively to said core member.

5. In a traffic controller, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a coremember comprising a disk mounted upon said shaft and rotatabletherewith, a disk member mounted on said shaft and dial, the combination3 rotatable relatively thereto and provided with peripheral slots, aring attached to and spaced from said disk provided with slotscorresponding to the slots in said disk, keys projecting throughcorresponding slots in said disk and said ring, means for locking saidkeys in said slots comprising-a helical spring mounted between said ringand said disk and engaging the outer edge of said keys, means forlocking said disk in any one of a plurality of. positions relatively tosaid core member, and a switch mounted in the path of movement of saidkeys and intermittently operable thereby.

6. In a switch operating mechanism the combination of a rotatable shaft,a core member' having a diameter smaller than said disk in said firstring and being provided with open-ended slots corresponding to the lowerportion of the slots in the disk in said first mentioned ring, keysprojecting through corresponding slots in said disk and saidintermediate rings, and a helical spring mounted between said ring andsaid first-mentioned ring, said spring resting on the peripheries ofsaid intermediate rings and upon the outer edge of each of said keys tolock the same in position, means for locking said disk in any one of aplurality of positions relatively to said core member. and switchmembers mounted in the path of movement of said keys and inter mittentlyoperable thereby.

'7. In a switch actuating mechanism, the combination of a primary dial,radial slots in said primary dial arranged near the periphery thereof,keys arranged in said slots at predetermined intervals and projectingthrough said primary dial, means for holding said keys in said slots, asecondary dial associated with said primary dial, a shaft rigidlyattached to said secondary. dial for rotating it, means for holding saidprimary dial and said secondary dial in frictional engagement and inrotatable relation to each other, and locking means for locking saidprimary dial in any desired angular relationship to said secondary dial.

8. In a trafiic signal controller, the combination of. a rotatableshaft, a secondary dial comprising a disk attached to said shaft. aprimary dial'mounted upon said shaft and rotatable relatively to saidshaft and secondary dial and provided with peripheral slots, a ringprovided with slots corresponding to the slots in said primary dialattached to and spaced from said primary dial, keys projecting throughcorresponding pairs of slots in said ring and in said primary dial, aswitch member in the path of said rotatable keys, and means for lockingsaid primary dial in any one of a plurality of positions relatively tosaid secondary dial.

9. In a trafiic signal controller, the combination of a. plurality ofprimary dials, a secondary dial. associated with each primary dial,means for adjusting each primary dial relatively to its secondary dialindependently of the adjustment on he other primary dials, and means fordriving said secondary dials in a predetermined fixed relationshiprelatively to each other.

10. In a traffic signal controller, the combination of a plurality ofprimary dials, a secondary dial associated with each primary dial, meansfor adjusting each primary dial relatively to its sec-- ondary dialindependently of each other primary dial, a drive shaft for eachsecondary dial, a common drive shaft operated by said controller and agear drive between said common drive shaft and said secondary dialshafts for driving said secondary dials in a predetermined fixedrelationship relatively to each other.

11.' In a traffic signal controller, the combination of a drive shaft, aplurality of secondary dials, means for driving said secondary dials in.a predetermined fixed relation relatively to each other and relativelyto said drive shaft and a primary dial associated with each secondarydial each of said primary dials being adjustable relatively to itsassociated secondary dial independently of the relative adjustmentbetween the other of said primary and secondary dials on the controller.

12. In a traffic signal controller, the combination of va drive shaft, aplurality of secondary .5

dials, shafts for driving said secondary dials respectively, gearsattached to said secondary dial shafts and to said main drive shaftrespectively and in engaged relation with each other for driving saidsecondary dials in a predetermined 1U VINCENT W. LEONARD.

